Pike, who co-founded the band and wrote many of their early lyrics, died in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on June 3, 2007, drowning in Buzzards Bay shortly after a show in Providence, Rhode Island. The band decided to continue following Pike's death, but have never permanently replaced him and have subsequently had several drummers, including Cameron Wisch (on "The Rhumb Line") and Gabriel Duquette (on "The Orchard").
The released their debut full length album The Rhumb Line in 2008. The band released their second full length album, The Orchard on August 24th, 2010. In February 2012, cellist and keyboardist Alexandra Lawn, an original member of the group, left the band.
www.rarariot.com
Oh La
Ra Ra Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somedays our future...it seems to hang on so tight
"Come quickly now the air hangs heavily today"
"Oh no, but what is that crimson in the shade?"
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
We've got to stick together.
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
I wouldn't say the word now but this is not what I meant,
For a woman that's fallen over head and ears
And still so warm, but I'm lonely too,
Suddenly she is still and says, "I hope that things will be better here."
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
We've got to stick together.
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
We've got to stick together.
In Ra Ra Riot's song "Oh La," the lyrics are communicating a sense of longing for connection and mutual understanding. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer urging someone to "say a word that's quiet" in order to break through the noise and chaos of everyday life. There is a sense of urgency to the lyrics, with the line "somedays our future...it seems to hang on so tight" suggesting that there is a looming sense of uncertainty or anxiety about what's to come.
Throughout the song, there are references to color and shade, which could represent the various emotional states that the characters are experiencing. The line "what is that crimson in the shade" could be interpreted in a number of different ways - is it something sinister or dangerous that's lurking just beneath the surface, or is it a symbol of passion or love that's waiting to be uncovered?
Ultimately, the message of "Oh La" seems to be that we all have something to learn from each other, and that we need to work together in order to navigate the challenges of life. The repetition of the phrase "we've got to stick together" reinforces this idea, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and connection in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Say a word that's quiet, not half the way there
Ask for a soft-spoken word, not something said half-heartedly
Somedays our future...it seems to hang on so tight
Some days it feels like our future is hanging by a thread
"Come quickly now the air hangs heavily today"
"Hurry up, the atmosphere is oppressive today"
"Oh no, but what is that crimson in the shade?"
"Oh no, what's that red color that's hidden in the darkness?"
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
We have much to gain from learning from each other
We've got to stick together.
Only by staying united can we succeed
I wouldn't say the word now but this is not what I meant,
I don't want to say it, but this isn't what I had in mind
For a woman that's fallen over head and ears
For a woman who's completely fallen in love
And still so warm, but I'm lonely too,
Even though she's affectionate, I'm still lonely
Suddenly she is still and says, "I hope that things will be better here."
All of a sudden she's quiet and says, "I hope things improve here."
Oh la we've got a lot to learn from each other,
We have much to gain from learning from each other
We've got to stick together.
Only by staying united can we succeed
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
nyx
This was on my mind and I felt a strong pull on my heart to come back to this song after what's been nearly a decade.
tocc
ive loved this song for years, the whole album is a masterpiece but its not on any streaming service :(
David Conway
tocc spotify
Katie Heath
I adore this song so much, just wish it was on Spotify :(
summerfae
just found out about this band TODAY and im already in music love. thanks for sharing :)
Irene F.
They remind me of a mixture of Vampire Weekend, The Drums, and Ok Go, which is totally awesome and unexpected. I love them so far <3
rindcorp1
The drummer in this band does great stuff.
dancu
This.... Is not what... I was looking for, but I like it.
Jacob
I am 24 and know far more about music than most "older" folk I come across. The beauty of the internet is using it like a time machine, we can now listen to whatever we want. From whatever era we want. From whatever country we want. Those of us addicted to music listen to it all. I was listening to Charles Mingus in my car this weekend and my father asked "WHAT IS THIS!? U LISTEN TO JAZZ!?" Yes old man, I do.
monbleuinfini
holy mother of music.